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Unchanging Sky’s Beautiful Melody

I prostrate to the unchanging luminosity of mindSo that you can seize the capital of unchanging DharmakayaI shall briefly explain unchanging DharmadhatuThe unchanging ground of all samsara and nirvana. (1)

All the various phenomena that appearAre like dreams, watermoons, and rainbowsGain certainty in the true nature, primordially unborn—Reality itself whose essence is free from extremes. (2)

Within no arising, appearances of arising shineThis mere arising is not arisingThis is the profound essential point of the Great Mother Prajnaparamita’s intentionThis Mother who gives birth to the four Noble Ones—how wondrous! (3)

From the unceasing expanse, magical appearances of cessation shineThis mere cessation is empty of cessationAnd the way that cessation and no cessation are equalityIs something incredibly miraculous and wondrous! (4)

These various appearances of things appearing to remain the sameAre like the mountains, lands, and oceans that appear in dreamsApart from being interdependent appearances arising from causes and conditionsTheir nature is Dharmadhatu, primordially void of remaining. (5)

As for these common appearances of arising, remaining, and ceasingSince they are interdependently existent appearancesAnd since their causes and conditions have no self-nature eitherNone of them move from Dharmadhatu. (6)

Friend and enemy, and so forth—all appearances of oppositesLike sensations of hot and cold in a dreamAre confused appearances arising from habitual tendencies, and apart from thatIn natural reality do not exist in the slightest. (7)

These various sounds of praise and criticismAre like beautiful music, echoes, and the sound of thunder in the skyIf you know the way they are unarisen resonance-emptinessYour attachment and aversion to sounds of praise and criticism will be pacified. (8)

Whatever appearances of the six realms’ beings you may seeThey are only confused appearances arising from your own particular karmaNot even an atom of them exists from their own side, and soKnow that they are vivid appearances of the nonexistent, like watermoons. (9)

Appearances of happiness and suffering in the higher and lower realmsAre just the confused appearances of virtuous and nonvirtuous karma ripeningSince there is no actor there can be no action, no karmaThese too are appearances of the nonexistent, empty reflections and nothing more. (10)

Sky, earth, mountains, continents, all the various components of the support—Since they are just dependently arisen, dependently existent appearancesAnd since they are not of the nature of being one or manyThey have no self-nature—their mode of appearance is like a watermoon’s. (11)

These various profound, vile, and in-between thoughtsDo not come from anywhere and do not go anywhereWhen examined, they do not exist—only mere experiences of them existSo they too are unarisen—just magical appearances of arising. (12)

Like rainbows shining in the sky’s expanseThese various appearances in the expanse of mind itselfApart from just being mere appearances are primordially nonexistentTherefore, it is explained that their nature is unarisen and free from extremes. (13)

Although in the world, space is called “space”It is not discernible as “this” or “that”Similarly, although they are explained to be “mind” and “mental afflictions”When analyzed, they are not discernible as “this” or “that”. (14)

In centerless and endless space, the empty expanseOn this planet with neither top nor bottomThe various wandering beings are indistinguishable as self or other—Know them to be free of fabrications, equality. (15)

Just as the various planes in the sky’s expanseHowever they fly, leave no trace of a pathHowever you examine mind’s true nature, free of fabricationsYou will not find trace of a single characteristic. (16)

However the four elements clash in spaceThe essence of space never changesHowever the mental afflictions and five poisons may agitateIn mind’s basic being, there is no change in the slightest. (17)

Just as the sky’s stars and planets can shine on a clear lakeYet neither obscure the lake nor move it at allSo various appearances of perceived and perceiver can shine in the mindAnd yet not move empty luminous mind in the least. (18)

Just as the roar of the elements clashing in space’s expanseNeither comes to space’s expanse nor leaves itSo the various pleasant and unpleasant sounds and speech we hearNever come to Dharmadhatu nor ever leave it. (19)

Just as the sun’s clear lightInstantly dispels all darkness in the sky’s expanseFrom the mind’s expanse, awareness’ brilliant energy shinesIgnorance’s darkness need not be removed—it is self-liberated. (20)

Just as if space did not exist, wandering sentient beingsWould not be able to come, go, or move at allSo if Dharmadhatu did not exist, mind and mental formationsWould not be able to move or perform their functions. (21)

Just as if space did not exist, flowers, fruits and so forthWould have no chance to grow, blossom, or ripenSo if Dharmadhatu did not exist, those practicing on the path to enlightenmentWould not be able to cultivate the qualities of the paths and grounds. (22)

Just as if space did not exist, we would have no placeTo get rid of the mounds of garbage we makeSo if Dharmadhatu did not exist, those practicing on the path to enlightenmentWould not be able to abandon the afflictive and cognitive obscurations. (23)

Just as rainbows in the all-pervading skyOn the clear ocean’s surface so vividly shineMay Sambhogakaya’s energy shine from Dharmakaya’s expanseAnd may great varieties of Nirmanakayas guide beings to enlightenment. (24)

On a sky path from America’s west to eastThe itinerant wanderer Dechen RangdrolSaid whatever spontaneously arose in his mind—May these words heighten the prajna of those with commitment! (25)